Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd highlighted Cooper Flagg’s impact in Thursday’s 116-114 overtime victory against the Detroit Pistons.
“I thought Coop made a heck of a play dump off there late for him to be able to get that dunk and then defensively to come up with that rebound… that scrum was a big winning play for us,” Kidd said.
Kidd praised Flagg’s playmaking in clutch situations. “He finds a way, scoring it or making a play… coming down the stretch, he scores and then makes a heck of a play going right with the bounce pass to AD for easy two,” Kidd explained, emphasizing the young star’s ability to elevate in critical moments.
The Mavericks recovered after blowing an 18-point third-quarter lead. Kidd acknowledged the team’s resilience: “The group stayed together… we stuck with it, we found a way, we keep competing,” he said, adding that players like Naji Marshall and Anthony Davis battled through illness to contribute effectively.
Kidd also highlighted the physicality of the matchup and how Flagg handled it. “We told him it’s going to be physical… when you have the ball, you’ve got to be strong with it. Once he gets time and strength, the sky’s the limit,” Kidd said, pointing to the 18-year-old’s maturity on both ends of the court.
Brandon Williams off the bench also drew Kidd’s attention. “He was really good… being competitive on defense, setting the tone with his speed, getting in the paint, and creating shots for others,” Kidd noted, praising his energy and floor awareness.
The coach also reflected on Flagg’s growing chemistry with Davis. “Just running a pick-and-roll together… the more they’re both on the floor, the chemistry will only get better,” Kidd said, referencing key late-game plays that sealed the overtime win.
Kidd celebrated the Mavericks’ ability to win close games against top competition. “We’re finally starting to win some close games… happy locker room after beating the best team in the East. They competed to the end, so it was a good basketball game for us,” he added.
Dallas improves to 11-17, with Flagg scoring 23 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while Davis added 15 points, including a critical alley-oop in overtime. Cade Cunningham recorded a triple-double for Detroit with 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists, but the Pistons fell to 21-6.
The Mavericks will travel to face the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, while Detroit hosts the Charlotte Hornets.
